I-Track: A Model for Innovation

At Geffen Academy, we embrace the transformative power of creativity. Research demonstrates that innovation occurs when creativity is nurtured in individuals within the right environment — one in which there is freedom to experiment without fear of mistakes and with a constructive irreverence and playfulness.

Geffen Academy’s I-Track program functions as the school’s research and discovery lab. Students have the freedom to create a course of study that aligns with their specific interests and, through this opportunity, own their education.

The I-Track Innovation Model Helps Students Develop:

ExpertiseStudents will acquire expertise in design-led inquiry, systems literacy, physical computing and presentation. These skills will be learned from problems originating from course work in other departments, external projects and student-conceived projects.

Creative Thinking SkillsI-Track projects are structured as open-ended projects where students problem-solve rather than generate correct solutions. A variety of problem identification and solving methodologies will be presented from different disciplines and cultures.

MotivationThe I-Track curriculum leverages students’ passions to promote deeper engagement with learning by exploring problems of their own choosing. The central idea is that innovators are self-motivated by a desire to see their passions applied to a purpose greater than themselves.

A Way to Balance Humanism and TechnologyI-Track recognizes that innovation happens in cultural and technological spaces. As a result, the program encourages student projects in humanities, arts, computation and science.